Sivagangai Name Reason

Followed by so many reasons…

There are different versions told regarding the orgin of the name ‘SIVAGANGAI’

Firstly, according to one version sivagangai was the battle field for many rulers shedding blood and hence the ‘SEV VENGA’ which in course of time became sivaganga

Secondly, there was a tank (Theppakulam) near the sivaganga area which was very similar to the sivagangai tank of Natarajar temple of Thillai Chidambaram. So, that the region was named as sivagangai.

In resemblance of the Ganges river being on the head of the Lord Siva as Ganga Devi a palace with a Siva temple was built from which the name ‘sivagangai’ was derived.

Fourthly, in memory of Sasivarna Thevar killing a ‘SHEV VENGA’ or red-tiger at the tanjore raja’s court, the palace was name as Sev-Vengai later gradually changed into sivagangai. Sasivarna Periya Udaya Thevar bathed in a spring which was called by the people as ‘sivagangai’. A place was built near the spring and a town was formed and named after the spring as ‘SIVAGANGAI’.

In my opinion Sasivarna Periya Udaya Thevar was driven out of his Nalukottai palayam by bavani sankaran. He went to thanjavur and thanjavur king gave asylum to Sasivarna Periya Udaya Thevar. While he was in thanjavur Sasivarna Periya Udaya Thevar resided at Sivagangai Park. After the recovery of palayam from bavani sankaran, Sasivarna Periya Udaya Thevar in loving memory of his former residence at thanjavur, he might have named his palayam as sivagangai.